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"Not against 'human wave' attacks by nearly two million Arabs," warned Vyhousky "Assad's forces will drive south while Yazid's Egyptians attack north across the Sinai, as they did in 'sixty-seven and

'seventy-three Only this time h-an's ar the River Jordan fro skills and superior technology, the Israelis will be overwhelmed"

"And when the slaughter finally ends," added Korolenko ominously, "the West will be thrown into a state of econoovernments, with total control of fifty-five percent of the world's oil reserves, drive prices to astronohts As they surely will"

"Your bet," Nichols said to Schiller

"Two bucks"

"Raise you two," came Korolenko

Vyhousky threw his cards on the table "I fold"

The Senator contemplated his hand a moment "I'll match the four and raise another four"

"The sharks are circling," said Nichols with a tight smile "Count me out"

"Let's not kid ourselves," said the Senator "It's no secret the Israelis have a small arsenal of nuclear weapons, and they won't hesitate to use them if they're down to the last roll of the dice"

Schiller sighed deeply "I don't even like to think about the consequences" He looked up as his boat's skipper knocked on the door and hesitantly stepped in

"Excuse , Mr Schiller, but there's an important call for you"

Schiller pushed his cards toward Nichols "No sense in prolonging the agony with this hand Would you excuse me?"

One of the cardinal niles of the weekly get-together was no phone calls unless it was a ency that in soame continued, but the four

"Your bet, Aleksey," said the Senator